Major Battles of the War of 1812

Gr 6–9—Taken collectively, these volumes present an effective, engaging account of the causes, personages, and battles of an all-too-often-forgotten American conflict. Occurring in the early years of the young nation, it tested the Republic's mettle, fanned the flames of nationalism, and provided a proving ground for future leaders, such as Andrew Jackson. Each volume, covering a particular aspect of the war, presents readers with germane terminology and concepts critical to understanding the conflict and its role in American history. Brief sidebars, numerous photos and illustrations, and concise chapters all work to keep readers engaged with the diversity of information. While the writing leaves much to be desired and the addition of a few primary sources would have been helpful, these titles do provide eye-catching, well-captioned images and straightforward arrangements of facts to create serviceable additions for reports.—Brian Odom, Pelham Public Library, AL